— Federal lawmakers from Wisconsin are raising concerns about a potential regulatory change with implications for engine-driven portable welders.
In a recent letter to the head of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, GOP U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, Dem U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and GOP U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio urged Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric to maintain an existing exemption for these products from the agency’s safety standards for portable generators.
These portable welding machines are widely used by construction workers at industrial sites.
The letter comes after the commission released a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that details potential new safety standards for portable generators, the lawmakers wrote.
Under the SNPR, the calculated weighted carbon monoxide emission rate of a generator couldn’t exceed a specified limit, and the generator would need to include a carbon monoxide generator and shut off mechanism, the letter shows. A previous rule exempted generators that are part of a welding machine from the category of portable generators, while the most recent proposal doesn’t include that exemption.
The lawmakers say the automatic shutoff requirement could “potentially render these machines unusable” due to the welding fumes and other emissions present at construction sites. They’re urging the CPSC to maintain the current exemption for engine-driven portable generators, arguing the change would harm manufacturers, suppliers and the workers that use the machines.
“The SNPR’s requirements do not account for these unique considerations and threaten the integrity of products manufactured throughout Wisconsin and Ohio,” they wrote. “The failure to account for these distinct characteristics could result in the direct loss of jobs and the loss of product classes that are important in the welding and construction industries.”
See the letter: https://files.constantcontact.com/b0f4b0cf701/7746940e-fac5-4bef-a0d5-d6cf03249a4a.pdf
See more in a release from Gallagher’s office: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/u-s-rep-gallagher-leads-push-against-onerous-regulations-on-northeast-wisconsin-welders-manufacturers/
— The tax cut Gov. Tony Evers signed in the budget will result in less than a 1 percent reduction in the net taxes Wisconsinites pay this year, compared to the 15.1 percent cut they would’ve seen under the GOP plan, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
The guv’s vetoes whittled a $3.5 billion income tax reduction over the two-year period down to $175 million by nixing cuts to the top two income tax rates that Republicans had proposed. Evers said the GOP plan favored wealthy Wisconsinites.
The LFB memo found the average tax cut left after the guv’s vetoes is $36 for those who will see a reduction. By comparison, it would’ve been $573 under the GOP plan to move to three income tax brackets from four and reduce the rates for all of them.
That average, though, is skewed by the higher benefit that top earners would have received under the GOP plan. Those making between $500,000 and $1 million would’ve seen an average reduction of $6,163 under the GOP plan, while those making more than $1 million were in line for a $30,286 cut in 2023, according to LFB.
Under what the guv left in the budget, those earners will see reductions of $48 and $44, respectively.
See more at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/fri-pm-update-judges-ruling-on-1849-law-draws-praise-condemnation/
— The Milwaukee Repertory Theater has raised more than 80 percent of its target fundraising goal of $75 million as part of its Powering Milwaukee Campaign.
The performing arts organization says raising $61 million marks a “crucial benchmark” in its effort to finalize construction plans for a new theater center in Milwaukee to replace its aging facilities. The planned facilities would include three performance spaces, an educational center for its thousands of students and more.
In a statement, Executive Director Chad Bauman thanked campaign organizers, Milwaukee Rep leadership and staff, as well as community advisors for their role in the effort.
“We now get down to the exciting work of finalizing timelines and vendors for the new Associated Bank Theater Center,” he said.
Learn more about the project in a recent WisBusiness.com podcast with Bauman: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisbusiness-the-podcast-with-chad-bauman-milwaukee-repertory-theater/
— A Dane County judge has ruled “there is no such thing as an ‘1849 Abortion Ban’ in Wisconsin” and instead the 174-year-old law only applies to feticide.
Judge Diane Schlipper issued the declaration as she rejected a motion by the Sheboygan County district attorney to dismiss a challenge to the 1849 law. That allows a group of doctors challenging the law to continue with their claims, but doesn’t address the merits of the case.
The issue is ultimately expected to land before the state Supreme Court.
“For the above reasons, the meaning of ‘feticide’ is not ambiguous–Wis. Stat. § 940.04 does not prohibit a consensual medical abortion,” Schlipper wrote in her decision.
Dem AG Josh Kaul, who filed the original challenge, called the ruling a “major victory in our fight to restore reproductive freedom in Wisconsin.” While the ruling doesn’t resolve the case, he stressed Schlipper’s finding that state law shouldn’t be interpreted to criminalize consensual abortions.
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative/PAC Director Gracie Skogman told WisPolitics the decision marks “a devastating day in Wisconsin for preborn children.”
“Wisconsin Right to Life will continue to advocate for full protection for all preborn life, and advocate to ensure that comprehensive and life affirming care is offered to women and their children in our state,” Skogman said in a statement.
See the ruling:
— RadUnity Corp., a UW-Madison spin-off that aims to improve medical imaging data, has secured $500,000 in seed funding.
According to a release, the funding will advance the development and implementation of RadUnity’s system for “harmonizing” medical images. Funds will also be used to create a platform aimed at addressing the issue of clinical variability in CT scans, which stands for computerized tomography.
“I am thrilled to move forward with FDA-compliant product development,” RadUnity Founder Tim Szczykutowicz said in a statement. “The fact that one of our investors is a former radiologist validates RadUnity’s potential to alleviate burnout and reduce time spent on image interpretations.”
The round was led by two angel investors based in Alabama, though names weren’t disclosed.
RadUnity plans to contract a team of regulatory experts and software engineering developers to design and implement an initial product across multiple sites and collect data for FDA submission.
See more at Madison Startups: https://www.madisonstartups.com/radunity-raises-500k-in-funding/
#TOP STORIES#
# ‘Every regulation has some sort of cost’: Wisconsin meat producers wary of increased label enforcement
# Child care dilemma squeezes Wisconsin workers, parents
# RNC host committee seeks contractor for Fiserv Forum buildout among its first slate of requests
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Farm-to-table made easy: Wisconsin’s local producers directory
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=661&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Milwaukee developer wants to turn former YMCA into 1,100-unit Cudahy Farms
– Milwaukee Rep has raised $61 million of the $75 million needed to build new theater complex
# ECONOMY
– How a former Army strategist plans to close economic gaps in Madison
# ENVIRONMENT
– New recycling technique developed in Wisconsin could help keep flexible plastics out of landfills
# HEALTH CARE
– A new program run by the Bad River tribe is providing free opioid reversal drugs through the mail
# INVESTING
– State budget expands Badger Fund venture capital program by $25 million
# LEGAL
– Wisconsin judge: Lawsuit to repeal abortion ban can continue
# MEDIA
– With stint on WTMJ show ended, Carole Caine lands temporary gig at another station
# POLITICS
– New state budget continues efforts to increase agricultural exports, food processing capacity
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=663&yr=2023
– Average income taxes in Wisconsin to go down $3 a month under cut signed by Evers
– First RFPs issued for 2024 RNC
# REAL ESTATE
– DreamPak plans to expand New Berlin HQ
# REGULATION
– 16-year-old boy dies at Wisconsin sawmill
– Wisconsin health officials drop fine for ‘Nutcracker’ performance during COVID restrictions
# SPORTS
– Kohler golf course in legal limbo after human remains found, environmental impact concerns raised
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
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